Scientist Project Packet Earth Science

Detailed instructions on completing your project

Mrs. Pamela Brown-Beckham

PEP Tutor

920-841-0440

brownpepscience@gmail.com

2

Scientist Project – Earth Science Class

Do not be overwhelmed by the size of this packet. Yes, you will be completing a large project with many

components, but we will be breaking it up into manageable pieces with lots of guidance along the way.

This packet is designed to be a resource and to give you a game plan. Take it one step at a time and

you’ll be amazed at how much you accomplish.

Each of the items listed on the following schedule is also listed on your class syllabus. In the following

pages you will find detailed instructions for each section. We will also be discussing these items in class.

As you submit each component, it will be given back to you with notes for improvement or suggestions to

try. Until we get to the final paper and presentation, all assignments will receive a simple pass/fail grade.

Since the project counts as 20% of your grade during the first two quarters, you will want to be sure you

submit all the required components.

All submissions should be type-written and labeled. You will be completing the project in sections but

at the end, you will combine all the sections into one final paper. This will be much easier to do if all

your information is stored in your computer (and backed up somewhere).

You will be asked to give an oral presentation of your project just prior to Christmas break. You will

create a tri-fold backboard to use in this presentation. If you like, you may go ahead and purchase the

backboard, but I encourage you wait to put it together until after you have completed all your research

and come to your final conclusions about how best to present your information.

Above all, have fun with the project. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

3

2016 Schedule for Scientist Project – Earth Science

8/27/18 Two ideas due

Read Introduction– pg 5

Submit a piece of paper with your name and at least two scientists and the particular

discoveries or inventions you want to research. Tell me why you chose these topics.

(“It looked easy.” is not a good reason.)

9/5/18 Submit at least 3 sources for your research on your scientist AND 3 sources for

research on his/her work

Read – Scientist Project Research – pg 6

You are to submit a list of your resources (you will be submitting this in Works Cited

format later). Remember - you will need to start with at least six sources – and not all

from the internet. Wikipedia is not a valid source.

9/10/18 Submit 4 paragraphs on the life of your scientist

Read – Four Research Paragraphs and Citing Your Sources – pgs 7-9

You are to submit four well-written paragraphs on the life of your scientist (not the

invention discovery yet) include your Works Cited page – this time in proper Works

Cited format.

9/17/18 Submit 4 paragraphs on the discovery/invention

Read – Four Research Paragraphs and Citing Your Sources – pgs 7-9

You are to submit four well-written paragraphs on your scientist’s invention or

discovery – again, include your Works Cited page in proper Works Cited format.

9/24/18 Submit ideas on setting up your demonstration

Read – Designing your Demonstration – pg 10

Submit a detailed outline of how you plan to demonstrate your scientist’s invention or

discovery to the class.

10/1/18 Submit 2 pages on research on the life of your scientist

Submit 2 pages on their discovery or invention

Read – Four Pages of Research – pg 11

Submit a total of four full pages - two full pages on the life of the scientist and two on

their invention of discovery. Cite your sources. NOTE: This is in addition to your four

paragraphs above. Submitting this portion of the assignment does not count as two

assignments. If you submitted two pages above, you will need to resubmit them again

on this date with any improvements you may have made.

4

10/8/18 One paragraph introducing your project

Read – Introductory paragraph – pg 12

Submit a well written paragraph introducing your project. Hook your reader.

10/15/18 Start working on your demonstration at home

10/22/18 Bring in at least three paragraphs discussing your live interview

Read – Live Interview – pg 13

Submit at least three paragraphs detailing your interview.

11/12/18 First Draft of Final Paper

Read - Science Project Paper – pgs 14-15

Note – there are sections added to the paper that have not been discussed yet. They are

quite easy to add. Just follow the instructions. Most sections have already been

completed, so it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting, then checking to be sure the

paper flows well.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SUBMIT THE DRAFT ON TIME! It is important

that you submit your first draft on the day it is due. I will be doing one last read-

through and adding notes prior to us leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday. This will

give you time to finish your final paper before it is due. Please do not e-mail it to me. I

need the hard copy.

12/3/18 Final Paper Due – NO EXCEPTIONS!!

Because we begin presentations this week – ALL papers must be submitted today.

No late work will be accepted. Your backboard will not be submitted until the day

of your presentation.

You have no instructions for designing your backboard other than be creative! Make it

clear. Include information on both the life of your scientist and their invention. You

should also add a demonstration of the invention to your presentation.

Science Project – Group A Presentations with backboard

12/5/18 Science Project – Group B Presentations with backboard

12/10/18 Science Project – Group C Presentations with backboard

12/12/18 Science Project – Group D Presentations with backboard

See page 16 for a copy of the final scoring sheet.

5

Earth Science - Scientist Project - Introduction

Your project this year will involve research on a scientist and his/her discovery(ies).

You will:

Choose and study a particular scientist

Learn all you can about the person

Research how they made their discovery or invention

Do your own demonstration on their discovery

Prepare a written report on your findings

Prepare a backboard display

Present your project to the class

We will work the entire first semester on this project. I will give you assignments throughout this time so that

you can complete the project in small increments. By staying on top of these assignments, you can easily

complete a fabulous project by December.

Discovery vs. invention

Some scientists discovered principles that already existed. For example, Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity

(as well as many other things) while Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the flying machine.

In your project, you will discuss the events that led to the discovery and any research that the scientist did after

making their discovery. If your scientist is an inventor – you will tell us what led up to their invention. Talk

about trial and error.

You will also need to discuss how this particular discovery or invention is either being used today – or has led

to other great discoveries or inventions. In other words – what has become of their work?

Demonstrations

If your project is on Jonas Salk and his discovery of the polio vaccine, you obviously cannot do

experimentation on humans. You can, however, prepare a demonstration of how he made the discovery and

how a vaccine works (be creative).

On the other hand, if your project is on Christopher Cockerell and his invention of the Hovercraft – you may

want to create a working model for your class demonstration.

Let’s get started…

Do a little research and decide which scientist and discovery you would like to study in depth. Because I

would like there to be no duplicates in the class – please come up with at least two ideas. I will be asking you

to submit these our second week of class.

Be as ancient (Archimedes’ Screw) or as modern (Ajay Bhatt – co-inventor of the USB) as you want. Your

project does not have to stay in the realm of Earth & Space Science. You’ll want to be sure there is plenty of

information available on the person and invention you choose.

Submit a piece of paper with your name and at least two scientists and their particular discoveries or

inventions you want to research. Tell me why you chose these topics. (“It looked easy.” is not a good

reason.)

6

Earth Science - Scientist Project - Research

Before you can write your paper or design your experiment, you need to conduct your research.

Background of the scientist

What led to their discovery or invention

How others responded to their work

How their work is being used today

Look for ways that you can either duplicate or demonstrate their invention or discovery

You will be writing at least two pages on the life of your scientist and another two to five pages on the

process of their invention or discovery, so be sure you are taking plenty of notes.

Keep a list of ALL the sources you have used. Start building your Works Cited page for your paper with

this information. Follow the instructions on your “Citing Your Sources” information page – or go to

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ It is also okay with me if you use a Bibliography

(Works Cited) creation website such as easybib.com.

Note – Wikipedia is not a valid source as it is Open Source meaning that anyone can post any

information they want, however, if you look at the bottom of a Wikipedia article on your subject, you

may use any sources listed there to aid in your research.

At least one of your sources in each section must be a non-internet source.

You will continue to add to this list as you work on your project and find that further research is required.

Your official Works Cited first draft is due later in the month.

Read through your resources carefully and take good notes on information that is relevant to your project.

You are to submit a list of your resources shortly after you decide on a project topic – then you will

resubmit the list as a Works Cited page a few weeks later. Remember - you will need to start with at

least three sources on the scientist and three sources on their invention/discovery (that’s a total of

six) – and not all from the internet.

7

Four Research Paragraphs – Scientist

Four Research Paragraphs – Invention/Discovery

This part of the assignment gets us started with your research paper. Now that you have had time to read

about (and take notes on) your scientist and their discovery, submit the start of your research section in

the form of four well-written paragraphs. The first assignment will be on the scientist only – a biography

if you will. The second assignment will be about their invention or discovery. These papers are due one

week apart

You may have discovered that not all the resources you gathered contained an abundance of information

on your topic. If not, it’s time to expand your research. Even if the original sources are all good,

continue to add to your investigation. The more information you have to work with, the easier it will be

to write your paper and design a workable presentation.

It is also possible that by now you have discovered that this is not really the project topic you were hoping

that it was. Now is a good time to change topics if you’d like. Just keep me posted on what you’re doing.

If you’re changing topics, you will need to submit an updated list of resources along with your four

paragraphs. (Do you see why we spread this out over several weeks?)

See the next section for information on citing your sources.

You are to submit four well-written paragraphs on the research you have done thus far, include

your Works Cited page – this time in proper Works Cited format. (Resubmit Works Cited – even

if you presented it in proper format for your earlier assignment.)

8

Citing Your Sources

Note – the majority of this information is taken from The OWL (Online Writing Lab) at

Perdue:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

You may use the Bedford Handbook, Writer’s Inc., or any other good resource that you

have to help you cite sources.

It is important that you give proper credit to your resources. A paper without proper

citation is subject to the charge of plagiarism.

If you use a direct quotation or if you substantially repeat an idea from another source, you are to credit

that source. Put quotation marks around a direct quote. At the end of the information you are crediting

put a one or two word citation within parentheses. You will give complete resource information at the

end on your Works Cited page. Note: Works Cited and Bibliography are the same thing.

For example, if you quote from an article written by Dr. Charles Alexander, you will put (Alexander) at

the end of the statement in the body of your paper. If you use a source that does not have an author, pick

a few words that will easily identify your source. Ex. (Jet Propulsion Laboratory). If you have more than

one source from the same author, add more identifying information within the paper. Ex. (Alexander,

March 2008). If you are quoting from a book, include the page number. Ex. (Alexander, 157).

Basic Rules

Begin your Works Cited page on a separate page at the end of your research paper. It should have

the same one-inch margins and last name, page number header as the rest of your paper.

Label the page Works Cited (do not underline the words Works Cited or put them in quotation

marks) and center the words Works Cited at the top of the page.

Double space all citations, but do not skip spaces between entries.

Indent the second and subsequent lines of citations five spaces so that you create a hanging

indent. You’ll find ‘hanging indentation’ as one of your options for paragraph formatting in your

Word program.

List page numbers of sources efficiently, when needed. If you refer to a journal article that

appeared on pages 225 through 250, list the page numbers on your Works Cited page as 225-50.

If you're citing an article or a publication that was originally issued in print form but that you

retrieved from an online database, you should provide enough information so that the reader can

locate the article either in its original print form or retrieve it from the online database (if they

have access).

Capitalization and Punctuation

Capitalize each word in the titles of articles, books, etc, but do not capitalize articles, short

prepositions, or conjunctions unless one is the first word of the title or subtitle: Gone with the

Wind, The Art of War, There is Nothing Left to Lose

Use italics or underlining for titles of larger works (books, magazines) and quotation marks for

titles of shorter works (poems, articles)

9

Listing Author Names

Entries are listed by author name (or, for entire edited collections, editor names). Author names are

written last name first; middle names or middle initials follow the first name:

Burke, Kenneth

Levy, David M.

Wallace, David Foster

Do not list titles (Dr., Sir, Saint, etc.) or degrees (PhD, MA, DDS, etc.) with names. A book listing an

author named "John Bigbrain, PhD" appears simply as "Bigbrain, John"; do, however, include suffixes

like "Jr." or "II." Putting it all together, a work by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be cited as "King,

Martin Luther, Jr.," with the suffix following the first or middle name and a comma.

More than One Work by an Author

If you have cited more than one work by a particular author, order the entries alphabetically by title, and

use three hyphens in place of the author's name for every entry after the first:

Burke, Kenneth. A Grammar of Motives.

---. A Rhetoric of Motives.

When an author or collection editor appears both as the sole author of a text and as the first author of a

group, list solo-author entries first:

Heller, Steven, ed. The Education of an E-Designer.

Heller, Steven and Karen Pomeroy. Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design.

Work with No Known Author

Alphabetize works with no known author by their title; use a shortened version of the title in the

parenthetical citations in your paper. In this case, Boring Postcards USA has no known author:

Baudrillard, Jean. Simulacra and Simulations.

Boring Postcards USA.

Burke, Kenneth. A Rhetoric of Motives.

Additional Sources

For information on citing Books, go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/06/

For information on citing Periodicals, go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/07/

For information on citing Electronic Sources, go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

10

Designing Your Demonstration

Before you start with the fun stuff, i.e., the actual hands-on demonstration, you will need to write your

plan out on paper.

Remember that this is NOT an experiment where you are asking a question (like you may have done last

year), this is a demonstration of your scientist’s invention.

Be creative but be clear. We all want to know exactly how your invention works.

You can write out your process in step-by-step format, or in paragraph form, but you will need to be sure

to include the following details:

Materials that you will need. Include sizes or brand names if that’s important. Always list the

amounts (using the metric system of course).

The step-by-step process you will follow to set up and run the demonstration.

Will the demonstration actually work – or will it just be a model

Don’t just tell me that you will “demonstrate your project” – give me the details on how you

will demonstrate it.

Here are a few examples:

If your project is about Oliver Evans and the invention of the refrigerator or Robert Jarvik and the

invention of the artificial heart, it may be difficult to bring true working models to class. You will want

to create a small model with items to represent all the important parts. However, if your project is on

Leon Battista Alberti and his invention of the anemometer – you can build and bring a real working

anemometer to class.

Write a detailed outline of how you plan to demonstrate your scientist’s invention or discovery to the

class.

11

Four Pages of Research

You will have received some notes back from me when you wrote your original four paragraphs on your

research. You will also have had time to continue researching as you drafted your demonstration design.

Now is the time to expand your original four paragraphs into at least two full pages of research for each

component. (A total of at least four pages.)

This section does NOT contain any information on the project you are designing. Remember – it is

research about what your scientist and what they have done.

Also note that two full pages means just that. If you start about four inches from the top of your first page

because of your paper’s headings, then you should go to at least four inches (or more) on a third piece of

paper.

Use the following format:

Double space

Indent your paragraphs

Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial font – size 12

1 inch margins all around

Cite your sources within the body of your paragraphs – use a one or two word cite in parenthesis,

typically the first word from your Works Cited page for that reference.

Do a good job here and you’ll be finished with this section of your paper.

Submit a total of four full pages - two full pages on the life of the scientist and two on their

invention of discovery. Cite your sources.

NOTE: This is in addition to your four paragraphs from before. Submitting this portion of the

assignment does not count as two assignments. If you submitted two pages previously, you

will need to resubmit them again on this date with any improvements you may have made.

12

Introductory Paragraph

I know this seems a little backwards to just now be writing the introductory paragraph – but you’ve now

spent lots of time with your project and you have a better idea of how to introduce it to your reader.

This paragraph is your hook. It’s what will entice the reader to delve into your paper. Don’t just start off

with a vague statement like “Did you ever wonder about….” Or “This paper is about….”

E-how.com gives this advice:

Write down the most interesting things about your essay. Is there something surprising in what

you have written? Does a specific image come to mind?

Explain the most interesting aspect of your essay to someone else. If you're stuck, try completing

these sentences:

o When I was thinking about this, I couldn't believe that______.

o It was amazing to me that ________.

o Imagine what it's like to_______.

o The image I can't get out of my head is ______.

Determine the aspect of your essay that would be the most interesting and compelling to someone

who has no idea what you are going to say.

Write this "most interesting" fact or image in a sentence or two. Refine it. Read it out loud. It

should match the tone of the rest of your essay. (E-how Hook)

Give me at least four or five good sentences that will excite your reader about your paper. Do not give

details here about your project – only hints.

Submit a well written paragraph introducing your project. Hook your reader.

13

Live Interview

As part of your Scientist Project, you are to interview at least one person who works with your scientist’s

invention in today’s world.

For example, if your project is on Daniel Bernoulli and the Bernoulli principle, you could talk with

someone who flies airplanes. If your project is on Alexander Fleming and the discovery of penicillin,

someone in the health profession would be ideal. You want someone who is familiar with the invention –

not just someone who has a passing knowledge. For example, if your project is on the invention of the

refrigerator – don’t just interview someone who has a refrigerator in their house – look for someone who

works on or installs refrigerators.

One of the best ways to find someone to interview is to ask your parents, or your parent’s friends, if they

know someone who works with your scientist’s invention or discovery. You cannot interview anyone

who lives in your house.

This interview needs to be an oral interview – either in person or over the phone. You may not e-mail a

list of questions and ask them to reply. Before you conduct your interview, compile a list of five to ten

questions and practice asking them to your parents – that way you can be sure that your questions make

sense. Don’t have questions that only have “yes” or “no” answers. Ask open ended questions.

Your last question should be “Is there anything else that you would like to tell me about this

invention/discovery?”

Be prepared to write down everything (or most everything) that your interviewee has told you. When you

finish your conversation, take a few minutes to write additional notes before you forget important points.

Be sure to thank this person for their time.

You are then to turn in at least three paragraphs telling what you learned in your interview. Be sure to tell

us who the person was that you interviewed and why you chose them. You may also cite this interview in

your Works Cited page as a “personal interview.” Here’s a sample from the OWL at Perdue…

Purdue, Pete. Personal interview. 1 Dec. 2000.

Bring in at least three paragraphs discussing your live interview

14

Scientist Project Paper

If you’re reading this, you’re almost home!

It’s time to begin assembling all the work you have done into your final paper. Gather up everything

you’ve done so far and follow the guidelines below to complete your project.

There will be sections that you have not done yet, but they are relatively simple – just do them as you go.

Layout Requirements:

Double space, indent your paragraphs

Label each section with a bold headline

Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial font – size 12

1 inch margins all around

Number your pages (not necessary on the title page, but it counts as page 1)

Cite your sources in the research section – use a one or two word cite in parenthesis, typically

the first word from your Works Cited page for that reference. See the information on writing

your Works Cited page (separate page)

Your paper should contain the following sections:

Title page – Come up with a title for your work – this will appear on your backboard as well. The

title should be bold centered towards the top of the page – larger font okay here. On the bottom half

of the page, center your full name, the date due, and your class – ex. PEP Earth Science.

Table of Contents page – telling which page each of the following sections begins.

The body of your paper should flow – do not change pages each time you start a new section. The

headings will be used as separators. Your body should contain these sections:

Introduction (at least two paragraphs) – this is your hook and the basic introduction

explaining your project. It will include why you chose the scientist that you did and

which of his or her inventions or discoveries you will be demonstrating.

Acknowledgements (one paragraph) – acknowledge any people who helped you in your

project.

Research on the scientist (two pages) – this is all that work you did in the beginning.

Copy it here – being double sure that you have cited all sources and that you have at least

two full pages.

Research on the discovery or invention (two pages) – again, this is work you should

have already completed.

Demonstration: Materials (list) – be very specific. Include brand names, sizes, weights or

volumes, quantity, etc. (metric). If you built anything, include the procedure for

construction. You may insert pictures or diagrams here (not of your experiment

– only of devices you may have used). Pictures should not be any larger than 2

or 3 inches. (Diagrams may be as large as needed to be clear.)

Demonstration procedure- explain what you will be planning to show the class.

What steps did you take to put together your demonstration? Someone should be

able to take your materials list and your procedures section and completely

duplicate what you did. Don’t leave anything out. Again – pictures and diagrams

15

are okay here, but don’t use only pictures. Do not simply copy instructions that

you are following—write down exactly what you did.

Live Interview (at least three paragraphs) – include your three paragraphs outlining your

live interview.

Conclusions and Application (at least two paragraphs – may be more) – what can you

interpret from your results? Did you learn anything differently by actual doing the

experiment or demonstration than you did by simply reading about it? Also, tell how we

use this discovery in real life.

Works Cited (this is a separate page) – use the previous handout or The OWL at Perdue

to aid you with this page. Double check to be sure you haven’t left any of your sources

out.

PROOFREAD!! Have someone else proofread!! PROOFREAD!! Be sure that your paper

flows well and that someone who is not familiar with science or with your project can understand what

you have written.

Congratulations – you have done a lot of work and here is where it shines!

It is important that you submit your first draft on the day it is due. I will be doing one last read-

through and adding notes prior to us leaving for the Thanksgiving holiday. This will give you

time to finish your final paper before it is due. Please do not e-mail it to me. I need the hard

copy.

16

SCIENTIST PROJECT – FINAL GRADING SHEET

Project Title _____________________________________________________________

Final Paper:

Points Possible Points Earned

Research on scientist 25

Research on invention or discovery 25

Cited at least seven sources

(3 scientist, 3 research, 1 interview)

Works Cited page accurate

10

Demonstration plan:

Clearly outlined in paper (perhaps with

sketches)

15

Live Interview 15

Real Life Application 5

Paper formatted correctly 5

TOTAL 100

Presentation:

Points Possible Points Earned

Presentation

Good eye contact with your audience

Organized, sequential presentation

Thorough

20

Exhibit & demonstration

Attractive, neat and balanced

Labeled well

Accurate demonstration

Easily understood by the average person

20

Knowledge

Able to answer questions well 10

TOTAL 50

17

Works Cited

Berry, Hillary, Science Fair Project Notebook c.2004 Many ideas and concepts found in this packet were

taken from the Science Fair Project Notebook designed by Hillary Berry of the Westgate Co-op,

Jacksonville, FL.

Novak, Melanie. "How to Write a Hook for an Essay." EHow. Demand Media, 26 June 2009. Web. 16

Aug. 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/how_5127257_write-hook-essay.html>.

"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2012.

<http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/>.